Investigating Radial Wire Array Z-Pinches as a Compact X-Ray Source on the Saturn Generator

Radial wire array Z-pinches, where wires are positioned radially outward from a central cathode to a concentric anode, can act as a compact bright X-ray source that could potentially be used to drive a hohlraum. Experiments were performed on the 7-MA Saturn generator using radial wire arrays. These experiments studied a number of potential risks in scaling radial wire arrays up from the 1-MA level, where they have been shown to be a promising compact X-ray source. Data indicate that at 7 MA, radial wire arrays can radiate similar to 9 TW with 10-ns full-width at half-maximum from a compact pinch.